Exciting Irish distance runner Darragh McElhinney has had to withdraw from this week's European Indoor Championships in Poland after returning "a weak positive" Covid-19 test.
Corkman McElhinney has been in excellent form, most recently impressing at the National Indoor Arena Micro Meeting in Abbotstown, where he set an Irish Under-23 3000m record when taking second place behind John Travers.
On Wednesday, Athletics Ireland said in a statement: "For medical reasons, Darragh McElhinney has withdrawn from the Irish team set to compete at the European Indoor Championships in Torun.
"Darragh is disappointed not be lining up in Poland on the back of his fantastic early season form, but he is now focusing his attention on preparing for the upcoming outdoor season."
McElhinney tweeted: "Unfortunately I've had to withdraw from the European Championships after getting a 'weak positive’ COVID test. Despite several negative tests either side of this one, protocol is protocol so I will have to sit this one out. Best of luck to all the Irish athletes competing."
On Monday, 1500m runner Ciara Mageean pulled out of the Europeans, saying the decision was made with the forthcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo in mind.
"Unfortunately, due to a few setbacks I am not where I want to be in order to compete in the European Indoor Champs and do myself and the Irish vest justice," she posted on her Twitter account.
Watch the European Indoor Championships, 4-7 March, on RTÉ Player and RTÉ2, with the morning sessions exclusively on Player.
